Few roles in Marvel Comics are as coveted as Sorcerer Supreme, but when Loki snatched the title out from under Doctor Strange, the good doctor ended up becoming even more powerful. When Strange's prospects were looking dull, a godly force intervened and made Strange stronger than ever before, with magic beyond any mortal's dream.
After losing his title in the 2017 storyline "Loki: Sorcerer Supreme," Doctor Strange is kicked out of the Sanctum Santorum, losing his potent powers and his assistant, Zelma, leaving him with nothing but a modest veterinary practice and his elderly talking dog, Bats. After a failed confrontation with Loki leads to Bats' death, Strange seeks out the help of a greater power to stop the God of Mischief. While Loki does stand among Marvel's greatest magic wielders, even without the power of Sorcerer Supreme, nothing could make him strong enough to overpower the magic Strange fights back with. In an anger-fueled journey of vengeance that even John Wick would be proud of, Strange makes his way to Asgard, where he comes face to face with Yggdrasil, known as the World Tree in Norse mythology.
In real-life mythology, Yggdrasil is the force that connects all nine realms to one another; but in the Marvel Universe, it also acts as an infinite well of magic for Asgardians. Turning over Bats as an offering, Strange is imbued with the magic of the World Tree, giving him more than enough power to evict Loki from the Sanctum Santorum. This occurs in Doctor Strange #381 by Donny Cates and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. In quick succession, Strange is able to tear the Sanctum from its anchored post in the sky and completely alter a demon-filled dimension into a meadow full of rabbits. While Zelma steps in before they are able to wreak more inter-dimensional havoc, Strange has the chance to show off a whole new level of power.
Strange's confrontation with Loki gives him powers beyond any mortal's imagination. Journeying to Yggdrasil grants Strange access to its staff, a concentration of the World Tree's power with the ability to grant its user many qualities similar to an Asgardian, making the wielder all but a god themselves. Strange doesn't stop there, however; in his rage against Loki, he also temporarily takes in the powers of the Void, which gives him a brief taste of immense godly powers. While he only spends a brief time merged with the Void to knock Loki around, Strange's deep magical knowledge merging with an ancient, immortal God of Destruction gives readers a glimpse at a new form of dangerous magic.
While it is impressive to see Strange wield enough magic to go blow for blow with Loki, the God of Mischief breaks something in the Sorcerer Supreme that makes his power limitless: his adherence to laws of magic. He bypasses the required life energy costs of magic by tethering himself to Sentry, who absorbs the punishment that using magic from Yggdrasil requires. Loki's plot threatens those Strange cares about most, pushing him to break the rules that have governed his actions so completely and absorb power far beyond what any mortal can typically harness. Going so far as to merge with the Void showcases just how dangerous Loki makes Strange by taking his title away.
Despite Loki's claims that all his antics are to prepare Strange for upcoming cosmic threats, it's hard to deny that the God of Mischief changes something in the master of mystic arts. Strange breaks all rules of harnessing magic, even using and betraying the god-like hero Sentry in the process. All the magic the man harnesses in his battle with Loki to become Sorcerer Supreme may be impressive, but what truly makes Doctor Strange more powerful is his willingness to win at any cost.